how to run a dicussion based undergraaute course

How do you conduct effective group discussions?

Ask for clarification if unclear about a participant’s intent or question. Treat participants with respect and consideration. Develop an awareness for barriers for learning (cultural; social; experiential, etc). Provide sufficient time and space for participants to gather their thoughts and contribute to discussions.

What is the best strategy for dealing with disagreements in class?

Deferring - Often, the best strategy is to invite participants to come up after the session and arrange for a time to talk about the disagreement further, and then move the discussion on to another topic. Boice, R. (1996) First-Order Principles for College Teachers: Ten Basic Ways to Improve the Teaching Process (Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing Co.)

How do you initiate a discussion about a subject?

If you want to initiate a discussion, ask people what they think about a subject, rather than telling them to pick sides and convince the other side that their idea is better. Thanks! How can you reach consensus in your team when you have to make decisions?

Do formulaic discussion prompts prevent students from expressing themselves?

He’s concerned that formulaic discussion prompts prevent students from adequately expressing themselves or even forming their identity -- particularly if every student, regardless of background or identity, is expected to weigh in with roughly similar reactions.

How do you start a discussion-based class?

Starting a discussionRefer to questions you distributed. ... Make a list of key points. ... Use a partner activity. ... Use a brainstorming activity. ... Pose an opening question and give students a few minutes to record an answer. ... Divide students into small groups to discuss a specific question or issue.More items...

What are the 4 basic steps in lecture discussion strategy?

Operationally, the manipulation of the lecture-discussion includes four steps as follows: (1) introduction and review; (2) the presentation of information: (3) the monitoring of comprehension; and (4) integration which ends with the closing.

How do you lead a college class discussion?

How to Lead a Class DiscussionTry not to spill all of your beans at once. ... Try not to answer your own questions before you even ask them. ... Try not ask “yes” or “no” questions; you want to ask open-ended questions that will get people to share their own ideas about the readings.More items...•

How do you facilitate academic discussion?

How to Facilitate DiscussionsUnderstand the role of the facilitator. Stay neutral. ... Provide structure to the discussion. ... Guide the discussion. ... Record the discussion in a visible way. ... Ensure productive group behaviors. ... Summarize the results.

What are discussion techniques?

These discussion strategies utilize tech tools that enhance learning and connectedness.Silent Discussions. ... Color-Coded Conversations. ... Human Bar Graphs. ... Collaborative Note Catchers. ... Virtual Questions. ... Google Form Groupings.

What are the four types of discussion?

They deliberate, dialogue, declare, or debate.

How do you lead a good discussion section?

Highlight one main question or no more than three main points. Focus on ideas and skills.  Tell students why the topics or questions are relevant to mastering the material, to understanding larger issues, and to doing well in the class (writing the paper).  Define terms.

What are some good discussion questions?

Ask a specific question, one that won't have an obvious right answer, likely in one of the following categories. Personal reflections: “What do you think about ___?” “How do you feel about ___?” Past experiences: “In the past, how have you responded when ___?” “Have you ever had an experience where ___?”

What is a helpful strategy for an effective group discussion?

Five Strategies for Effective Group Discussion. Ask Open-ended Questions. Summarize, Paraphrase and Repeat Back. Follow-up Questions. Allow for Silence.

How do you prepare for a discussion class?

Tips for Participating in Class DiscussionsRead the assignment. Class discussions are usually about a particular topic, and there are usually assigned readings. The first step is to read carefully the assigned material.Make notes for discussion. Make notes on points about which you agree or disagree.

How can I be a good facilitator of learning?

A good facilitator will:Develop a detailed agenda after discussion with organization leaders. ... Use participants' names. ... Call on people in the order in which they raise their hands. ... Make eye contact. ... Use the ground rules (mutually agreed upon meeting rules for participation) early on.More items...•

What are some facilitation strategies?

Facilitation StrategiesEstablishing a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for participants.Developing group agreements.Equalizing power dynamics among participants.Being intentional and strategic about diversity—or attending to differences that make a difference.Practicing intentional impartiality.More items...

What can facilitators do to encourage participants to make unclear contributions?

The facilitator can encourage participants making unclear contributions to give examples and factual evidence of their points. The facilitator can also restate points for verification or rejection by the participants, or give enthusiastic nonverbal cues and patience.

How to encourage non-participants to participate in a discussion?

A way to approach non-participants is to provide opportunities for smaller group discussions or pair-share discussions. Smaller groups may help put some students at ease. A second strategy is to ask opinion questions occasionally (e.g., “How do you feel about this?”). This may encourage participation by reducing participants’ fear of answering incorrectly. Another strategy is to have participants write out their answers to a question. Having the words written out may make it easier for a shy or fearful person to speak up.

What does it mean when a facilitator uses an experimentally verified answer?

If there is an experimentally verified answer, the facilitator can use the opportunity to review the method by which the answer could be determined. If the question is one of values, the facilitator may use the occasion to help participants become aware of the values involved.

What happens when conflict is left ambiguous?

In good discussions, conflicts will sometimes arise. If such conflicts are left ambiguous, they may cause continuing trouble. Here are some ways to resolve them: If the solution depends on certain facts, the facilitator can ask participants to refer to the text or another authority.

How to approach the dominant participant and pull in non-participants?

The participant who talks too much: A way to approach the dominant participant and pull in non-participants is to redirect the discussion to another person or another topic. Alternatively, you may wish to reframe their comments, making them viable additions to the discussion.

Why is facilitation important in a discussion?

Effective facilitation of a discussion involves the recognition and employment of different perspectives and different skills to create an inclusive environment. In order to do so, it is important to consider the features of effective discussions, and conditions that promote small group interaction and engagement. Discussion is a powerful mechanism for active learning; a well-facilitated discussion allows the participant to explore new ideas while recognizing and valuing the contributions of others.

What is the ultimate goal of a discussion board assignment?

The ultimate goal of a discussion board assignment is to get students talking to each other. But instructors rethinking their discussion boards emphasize that they play an active role throughout the process.

What does Speer grade based on?

Instead of assigning a grade based on whether or not a student posted, or the number of words in a response, Speer gives high marks to posts that “advance the discussion.”. Each student who posts is building on what other students said, as in a face-to-face conversation.

Who created the 3CQ?

Budd has also helped introduce to the university a discussion post format known as 3CQ, developed by Jennifer Stewart-Mitchell, a K-12 teacher who frequently publishes curriculum ideas. Each student’s response must include a compliment, a comment, a connection (3C) and a question (Q).

Do Hodges experiments require credit?

No matter how much Hodges experiments, some students will only want to use the discussion boards the minimum amount for credit, he admits. But motivated students in his class, many of whom are practicing teachers, form relationships that extend beyond the class itself.

How to follow up on a lecture?

Tutorials typically follow up on a lecture. Try to attend lectures yourself (seek the instructor's consent first). Alternatively, arrange for students to share with you a copy of their notes, so that you have a better picture of what they have learned.

How to teach tutorials?

Planning. Tutorials should have their own learning goals. Check that tutorial goals are congruent with those of the rest of the course and that they clearly define what students will do. Communicate these goals to your students. Focus not on “covering material” but rather encourage active learning among your students.

What is facilitating tutorials?

Whether in-person or online, facilitating tutorials is an opportunity to work closely with students and understand where they are in their learning. For many graduate students, teaching tutorials is often their first and sometimes only chance to apply and develop their teaching skills. Tutorials will run differently depending on your discipline;

Do tutorials add value to a course?

Be sure your tutorials add value to the course . Students can regard tutorials as optional and their attendance may be erratic. If it is possible to divert some of the course content and assessments into academic tutorial times, it is more likely that students will take tutorials more seriously.

What is an ungraded quiz?

Special features: An ungraded quiz encourages students to pay attention during lectures by presenting them with a short-term, non-threatening learning objective. It can be done very quickly, and also provides you with a source of candid feedback on students’ knowledge level.

How to group students according to points of view?

Physically group the class according to points of view: either assign students a point of view depending on where they sit, or ask people who want to argue each point of view to move to sit together. Invite someone from one side to begin the debate by stating his/her point of view.

What is field trip?

Special features: A field trip can be especially interesting for students and instructors, and it facilitates some types of learning that cannot take place in a classroom. A field trip to a professional institution can show students where their studies may lead them.

What is case study method?

Business and law cases tend to be very detailed and long, and take several classes to analyze, but instructors can apply a simplified case-study method (described below) for teaching in many disciplines. Applying theory to an instance as described by some source material can demonstrate the applicability of the course material beyond the classroom. A good case study:

Is lecturing a dominant teaching method in university classes?

As long as class sizes continue to increase, it is likely that lecturing will be a dominant teaching method in university class rooms. However, there are many different activities that can be integrated into a lecture-based course to encourage the students to engage with the subject material, to facilitate interaction among ...

Is a debate formal or informal?

Special features: Debates can be formal or informal: what follows is about informal debates (i.e., debating as a method of class discussion). See Bean (1996) for instructions for holding a formal debate – a much more complicated and lengthy process that can be a focal point for an entire segment of course material.

What should participants come away with?

Participants should come away with an understanding of how Design Thinking can be used in the real world, so explain what would usually happen next—turning paper prototypes into wireframes and, eventually, clickable prototypes to be tested on real users, for example.

How long does a design thinking workshop last?

It can last two hours, two days, or even a full week —it all depends on the context and the goals at hand. Based on the five phases of Design Thinking, a Design Thinking workshop focuses on: Empathy: Getting to grips with a real user problem and building empathy for the target users / customers.

What is a design thinking workshop?

A Design Thinking workshop is a hands-on, activity-based session built around the Design Thinking process. Most often, these are conducted in person, but you can certainly adapt and conduct a remote Design Thinking workshop.

Planning

Communicating

Delivery

Question Strategies

Activities

Motivation

Other Strategies

Resources